Lock.



. M,.-BRINTNALL & w. E. SWALM.V LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10,1914- 1,251,177.

Patented Dea. 25, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

` T. M. BRINTNALL & W. E. SWAVLM.

i LocK. APPLICATION FILED-MAH. l0; |914.

2 SHEETS-sneu 2.

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, M as Patented Dec. 25, 1917'.

entran srafrns rar THOMAS M. BRNTNALL AND WILLIAM E. SWALM, 0F LOS ANGELES, GALIFOBNIA, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TC) WILLIAM C. BYAN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

LOCK. ".1,

Speccation or" Letters Patent.

Application filed. March 10, 1.914. Serial No. 823,669.

T 0 all whomy t may concern.'

Be it known that we, TiroMas M. BRINT- NALL and lVrLLrAM E. Swami, both citizens of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have jointly invented new and useful Improve-ments in Locks, of which the following is a. specification.

This invention relates to locks, and more particularly to adjustable tumbler locks in which the set or combination of the several tumblers may be varied so as to require a different key to operate the lock for each set or combination of the tumblers. Such locks are commonly used for sate deposit bor; doors and to protect valuable contents of other structures to which they are applied, as their use is a highly el'licient protection against tampering by unauthorized persons with pass keys, skeleton keys and the like, or with keys which have been discarded after use in connection with a previous combination or arrangement of the tumblers.

rlhe invention has for its object to provide an improved adjustable tumbler lock, with the above objects in view, and which will be relatively superior in point of sim plicity and inexpensiveness in construction and organization, taken in connection with positiveness in operation, convenience and facility in use and adjustment, which atfords increased security as against tampering, which will not be liable to easily get out of order, and which will be generally superior in eiiiciency and serviceability.

lith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel and useful provision, formation, construction, combination, association and relative arrangement ot parts, members and features, all as hereinafter described, shown in the drawings and finally pointed out in claims.

In the drawings: Y

Figure 1 is a front elevation of one par'- ticular form of adjustable tumbler lock embodying the invention, with the front casing wall or plate partially broken away for clearness of illustration; the parts of the lock, including the bolt, being in locked p0- sition and being set for control by the proper keys;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts of the lock adjusted so as to provide or establish a new combination or arrangement of the tumblers wherein they lwill be subject to control ot a diiicrent pass key;

Fig. 3 is la longitudinal sectional view of the improved lock shown in Fig. 1, taken upon the line rc3-m73, Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the appended arrow;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken'upon the lines fc4-004, Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the appended arrow;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 1 with the tumblers and face plate removed, permitting a detail showing of the bolt and its adj uncts Fig. 6 is a 4face view of the bolt in detached position;

iFig. 1 is a top edge view of the `bolt in detached position;

Fig. 8 is a detail face View, in detached position, of Vthe custodian key tumbler controlled by the custodian key;

Fig. 9 is a similar view of oneot the pass key tumblers;

Fig. 10 is a similar View of a master key tumbler a plurality of which cooperate with a plurality of the pass key tumblers in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a similar view of one of a number of spacers which are alternately applied between the several master keytumblersand pass key tumblers; Y

Fig. 12 is a face View of a custodian key used to operate the custodian key tumbler shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 13 is the change combination key which is used to operatethe tumblers shown in Figs. 8 and 10;

- Figs. 14 and l5 are face views of differently formed pass keys, or pass keys constructed with a variation of ward formation, which are to be respectively used in connection with diierent combinations or arrangements of the pass key tumblers shown in Fig. 9 and the master key tumblers shown in Fig. 10, and which directly operate upon the pass key tumblers, both in producing a different combination of the same and in operating the lock when set; and,

Fig. 1G is a detail sectional View taken upon the line :U16-w16, Fig. 3.

Corresponding parts in all the ligures are designatedbyv the same reference characters.

Referring with particularity to the draw-4 ings, A designates the bolt, B designates the master key tumblers and C designatesJv the Fatented Dec. 25, 1917.

roo

pass key tumblers of an improved adjustable tumbler lock constructed to embody the invention. These tumblers with their associated parts are shown as accommodated within a easing 1G, having a detachable front plate 17 permitting the several features to be assembled and removed for repair or replacement. rIhe tumblers B, which are spaced each from the next by one of the spacers D shown in Fig. 11', are, with such spacers, pivotally mounted intermediate of their ends upon an eccentric shaft 18, that is a shaft having eccentrically disposed end bearings 19 which take into suitable bearing openings in the rear wall of the casing 16 and front cover 17. The pass key tumblers are likewise relatively spaced by similar spacers l); and together with the same are journaled on a stud 20, the end of which is f fastened to or made integral with the casing 16.

Each of the master key tumblers B is formed at one end into a toothed sector 21; and each of the pass key tumblers C is correspondingly provided at one end with :a toothed sector 22, such ends being the adjacent ends of the several tumblers B and C, the arrangement being' such that normally each of the toothed sectors il is in mesh with an opposed toothed sector 22, such arrangement being subject to control of the eccentric shaft 1S which may be manipulated, as hereinafter set forth, to terminate such meshed relation and permit relative pivotal adjustment of the tumblers B and tumblers C. Each of the pass key tumblers C is provided with a tension device consisting of a spring finger 23 one end of which takes into a suitable recess 24 above the respective sector 22, and the other end of which bears against thetop wall of the casing 16, such springs all tending te elevate the sector heads and depress the opposite ends of the pass key tumblers which ends, 24, project in a group in position for actuation by such pass key as is applied to the same through a rotating barrel 25 confined within a thimble 2G supported upon the front plate 17 which bridges the interior of the casing 1G, said barrel having a longitudinally slotted cylindrical extension 25 which ranges transversely of the casing beneath the series of key-operated ends 24 of the pass key tumblers C; the rearward end of such extension 25a, being journaled in the rear wall of the casing 16. Immediately within the rear casing wall the eXtension 25at is provided with a bolt operating finger 28 which cooperates with the walls of a notch or recess 29 in the shank 30 of the bolt A, to reciprocate the bolt through the eX- tension 25*l under pass key actuation. Suitable stops 31 are provided upon the casing rear wall to limit the rotation of the extension 252L and the linger 28. The bolt A has the usual operative nose 32 which plays through a suitable opening in the front end gitudinally against the inner face of the rear 'wall of the casing, having slots 83 and 34 respectively, accommodating the shafts 1S and 20 and thus permitting the bolt to reciprocate. The bolt shank carries immediately behind or inward of the nose 32 a stump 35 which ranges forwardly from the bolt shank and is adapted to enter a series of notches or recesses 36 provided respectively in the ends 37 of the master key tumblers opposite the sector head ends 21; and also to enter a similar recess 38 in the custodian key tumber E shown in Fig. 8, which latter is held flat against the bolt shank 30, being pivotally mounted upon the eccentric shaft 18, and is held depressed, by a spring finger 39 which engages a nose 40 at the extremity opposite to the recess 3S and likewise bears against the casing top. Normally the slot 3S occupies a depressed positionso that the stump 35 cannot enter the same; andthe slots 36 are so normally7 disposed that the stump can enterl the same when the bolt is reciprocated by the finger 28 under actuation of the pass key. Means are provided for normally holding the master key tumblers B in the positions shown in Fig. l, that is with the sector heads 21 in mesh with the sector heads 22 of the pass key tumblers; such means being shown as comprising a leaf spring 41 held at one end by a rivet 42 set intoy an opening in the rear casing, the other end of the spring bearing upon an angular surface 43 at the rearward end of the eccentric shaft 18.

Each of the master key tumblers B has a recess 44 in its lower portion for insertion of a ward upon the change combination key K; and the custodian key tumbler E has a similar recess 45 in its lower portion to receive a Ward upon the change combination key.

ln the use and operation of the improved adjustable tumbler lock, referring to the particular embodiment thereof hereinabove described and shown in the drawings, the bolt may be reciprocated by any pass key or common key, such as F and G shown in Figs. 14 and 15, which may be inserted through the slotted barrel 25 and the slotted extension 25a thereof and beneath the grouped ends 24 of the pass key tumblers C, all as determined by the formation of the wards on the pass key andthe grouped arrangement of said tumbler ends which lie above the extension 25a. The turning of the key will turn the foot 28 and reciprocate the bolt, the stump freely passing in and out of the slots 86 in the master key tumblers B and slot 3S in the custodian key tumbler E. However, to enable this operation of the bolt, in either direction, the custodian key H must first have been inserted through a correspondingl slotted barrel 46 mounted in a thimble 47 upon the front casing plate 17 I and having a corresponding slotted eXtension 46a which is journaled atits far end in the rear casing wall; and provided said custodian key thus inserted has been operated to pivotally swing the custodian key tumbler E so as to bring its recess 38 into position for the stump 35 to be received within the same in common with its reception within the recess 2-36, as stated above. As long as the custodian key remains inserted, holding the custodian key tumbler in the position stated, the pass key F or G can be employed to reciprocate the bolt in either direction. However, as soon as the custodian key is withdrawn, the custodian key tumbler will swing into position to prevent the bolt from being withdrawn after the stump has left the recess 3S upon the movement offthe bolt into locking position. Thus, in order to unlock or withdraw the bolt after it has once been shot it is necessary to apply and ma nipulate the custodian key H in the manner above specified, and then to use the pass key to withdraw the bolt.

In order to change the combination or set of the. several master key tumblers and pass key tumblers, the custodian key tumbler E is first manipulated by the custodian key to permit the lock to be unlocked and the bolt to be withdrawn asl above stated. The change combination key K, shown in Fig. 13, is then inserted through the slotted barrel 4G when registered with the top notch in thimble 47 so that its several wards enter the several recesses 44: of the master key tumblers B, and the notch 15in the custodian tumbler E. The slight turning of this key will swing these tumblers away from the pass key tumblers C, by partially turning the eccentric shaft 18, which moves all of the master key tumblers B and custodian key tumbler E in a direction away from the pass key tumblers, unmeshing these two sets of tumblers. A new pass key, such as F or G, is then inserted in the slotted barrel 25 and its extension 25a beneath the end portions 24 of the passvkey tumblers C, and is turned to stand vertical when all of the wards will come into contact respectively with all of said end portions 24; this determines a newA set or arrangement of the pass key tumblers C which are now ready for remeshing with the master key tumblers B. This last step is performed byslightly rocking the master key tumblers B and the eccentric shaft 18 through the slight rota tion of the change key. The spring el will have previously held the master key tumblers in the projected position. 1n opposition to this spring the said tumblers B are again 'thrown into normal positions to mesh in altered relation with the pass key, tumblers C, in which position the spring 41 now holds them. All of the tumblers B vwillhave been held in proper position to receive the stump 85 during the change of the combi nation, because such stump is retained in the recesses or gates of tumblers B during this changing operation, the bolt having upon the withdrawal of the bolt. The operation of locking andunlocking the bolt, by the use of the new pass key and the custodian key, is the same in all particulars and steps as previously pointed .out with relation to the previous set of the tumblers.

1t results, as will Vbe manifest, that as many combinations of the tumblers may be provided as keys are provided with different ward formations for producing the same, and that when a new combination is pro-V vided only the key which has produced it can operate the lock. No alterations or substitution of the parts or features are required to this end, save and except the provision ofa different pass key for each set of the tumblers.

The master key tumblers B are shown as of 'different dimensions vertically so as to render impossible the joint actuation of all these tumblers by any key or V implement other than that formed with wards or the like to cooperate with these several tumblers as shown particularly in Fig. 16. Also, we provide an opening 17a in the front plate 17 of the casing 16 in line with the recesses 36 in the master key tumblers B, and through which a suitable key or implement may be inserted to actuate all of said tumblers to permit the bolt 32 to be withdrawn, the stump 35 entering said recesses 36. This permits the opening of the lock in order toproduce a new combination of the tumblers responsive to the formation of a new pass key, in case a given pass key is lost. wards of the master key would be arranged to actuate both the tumbler E and the master key tumblers B, thereby enabling the bolt to be withdrawn by the use of this key alone.

It is manifest that many variations may be made with respect to the construction and arrangement of the parts and features, and with relation to the foregoing description and drawings, without departing from the spirit of the invention and a fair interpreta-V tion of the following claims. Y

Havingthus disclosed our invention, we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An adjustable tumbler lock, comprising" a bolt, a master key tumbler mounted to move in two different paths, a pass key tumbler mounted to'move with the master The key tumbler during the movement of the latter in one of its paths of movement, a custodian key tumbler through the independent movement of which movement of the bolt is permitted after application of a pass-key to the pass-key tumbler', a. stump upon the bolt cooperating with said master key tumbler and said custodian key tumbler to prevent movement of the bolt, and means serving to yieldingly hold the master key tumbler in position for movement in each of its paths.

2. An adjustable tumbler lock, comprising a bolt, a master key tumbler mounted to move in two different paths, a pass key tumbler mounted to move with the master key tumbler during the movement of the latter in one of its paths of movement, a custodian key tumbler` through the independent movement of which movement of the bolt is permitted after application of a pass-key to the pass-key tumbler, a stump upon the bolt cooperatingwith said master key tumbler and said custodian key tumbler to prevent movement of the bolt, and means serving` to yieldingly hold the master key tumbler in position for movement in each of its paths; said master-key tumbler and said custodian key tumbler being provided each with a recess adapted to receive said stump when the bolt is withdrawn.

3. An adjustable tumbler lock, comprising a bolt, a master key tumbler mounted to move in two different paths, a pass key tumbler mounted to move with the master key tumbler during the movement of the latter in one of itspaths of movement, a custodian key tumbler through the independent movement of which movement of the bolt is permitted after application of a pass-key to the pass-key tumbler, a stump upon the bolt cooperating with said master key tumbler` and said custodian key tumbler to prevent movement of the bolt, and means serving,1 to yieldxingly hold the master key tumbler in position for movement in each of its paths; said master key tumbler and said custodian key Atumbler being provided each with a recess adapted to receive said stump when the bolt is withdrawn; and means being,- provided for normally holding the master key tumbler and the custodian key tumbler in positions to cooperate with the stump to prevent movement of the bolt.

et. An adjustable tumbler lock, comprising a casing provided with an eccentric master key tumbler shaft and a pass key tumbler shaft, a custodian key tumbler pivotally mounted upon the master key tumbler shaft, a plurality of master key tumblers mounted upon the master key tumbler shaft, a plurality of pass key tumblers mounted upon the passV key tumbler shaft, all of said; tumblers being pivotally mounted and each of said master key tumblers being arranged for operative connection with one of said pass key tumblers for joint movement therewith, means normally holding said masten key tumbler eccentric shaft in position whereby the said operative connection of said master key tumblers and said pass key tumblers is maintained subject to direct actuation for separation thereof, a bolt mounted to reciprocate within the casing, a stump upon the bolt and coperating with the master key tumblers and the custodian key tumbler to prevent withdrawal of the bolt, and means normally holding the master key tumblers and custodian key tumbler in positions to so cooperate with the stump.

5. An adjustable tumbler lock, comprising a casing provided with an eccentric master key tumbler shaft and a pass key tumbler shaft, a custodian key tumbler pivotallymounted upon the master key tumbler shaft, a plurality of master key tumblers mounted: upon the master key tumbler shaft, a plurality of pass key tumblers mounted upon the pass key tumbler shaft, all of said tumblers being pivotally mounted and each of said master key tumblers being arranged for operative connection with one of said pass key tumblers for joint movement therewith, means normally holding said master key tumbler eccentric shaft in position whereby the said operative connection of said master key tumblers and said pass key tumblersis maintained subject to direct key actuation for separation thereof, a bolt mounted to reciprocate within the casing, a stumpY upon the bolt and coperating with the master key tumblers and the custodian key tumbler to prevent withdrawal of the bolt, and means normally holding the master key tumblers and custodian key tumbler in positions to so cooperate with the stump; said custodian key tumbler being) adapted to be operated by a suitable key to swing said eccentric master key tumbler shaft so as to operatively disconnect said naster key tumblers and said pass key tumlers. v

6. An adjustable tumbler lock, comprising a casing` provided with an eccentric master key tumbler shaft and a pass key tumbler shaft, a custodian key tumbler pivotally mounted upon the master key tumbler shaft, a plurality of master key tumblers mounted upon the master key tumbler shaft, a plurality of pass key tumblers mounted upon the pass key tumbler shaft, all of said tumblers being pivotallyV mounted and each of said master key tumblers being arranged for operative connection with one of said pass key tumblers for oint movement therewith, means normally holding said master key tumbler eccentric shaft in position whereby the said operative connection of said master key tumblers and said pass key, tumblers is maintained subject to direct key llt) actuation for separation thereof; a bolt mounted to reciprocate Within the casing, a stump upon the bolt and cooperating With the master key tumblers and the custodian key tumbler to prevent Withdrawal of the bolt, and means normally holding the master key tumblers and custodian key tumbler' in positions to so coperate With the stump; said custodian key tumbler being adapted to be operated by a suitable key to swing said eccentric master key tumbler shaft so as to operatively disconnect said master key tumblers and said pass key tumblers; and means for holding said master key tumblers and said custodian key tumbler in the positions last recited.

7 In an adjustable tumbler lock, a master key tumbler and a pass key tumbler mounted for both joint movement and relative separation and adapted to be jointly actuated by a suitable pass key; a bolt, means upon the bolt cooperating normally With the master key tumbler to prevent movement of the bolt and being freed to permit movement of the bolt upon joint movement of the master key tumbler and the pass key tumbler; and means for relatively moving the master key tumbler and the pass key tumbler by direct key actuation.

8. In an adjustable tumbler lock, a master key tumbler and a pass key tumbler mounted :tor both joint movement and relative separation and adapted to be jointly actuated by a suitable pass key; a bolt, means upon the bolt cooperating normally With the master key tumbler to prevent movement of the bolt and being freed to permit movement of the bolt upon joint movement of the master key tumbler and the pass key tumbler; and means for relatively moving the master key tumbler and the pass key tumbler by direct key actuation; in combination With a custodian key tumbler normally coperating With said means upon the bolt to prevent movement of the bolt and adapted to be moved in one direction to be freed from said means and to be moved in another direction to relatively move said master key tumbler and said pass key tumbler.

9. In an adjustable tumbler lock, a master key tumbler and a pass key tumbler mounted for both joint and relative movement and adapted to be jointly actuated by a suitable pass key; a bolt, means upon the bolt cooperating normally With the master key tumbler to prevent movement of the bolt and being freed to permit movement of the bolt upon joint movement of the master key tumbler and the pass key tumbler; and means for relatively moving the master key tumbler and the pass key tumbler by direct key actuation; the master key tumblers having each a recess which recesses are adapted to be brought into registration to receive said means upon the bolt to permit movement of the bolt, and said tumblers being mounted in a casing provided With an opening. with Which said recesses are adapted to register.

10. In a lock oi' the character disclosed, a

master key tumbler and a pass key tumbler upon joint movement of the master key tumbler and the pass key tumbler under actuation by the same key.

In testimony whereof, We have signed our names to this specication in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

THOMAS M. BRINTNALL. WILLIAM E. SWALM.

I/Vitnesses:

D. M. CUMMINGS, W. F. Cook.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

